THE BRINK - OPERATION DEEP FLIGHT

by Marshall Huffman

  “I should think so. Now keep in mind there is no backup system to make freshwater if this unit fails. All you will have is what’s in the storage tanks.”

  “I understand. There just wasn’t enough room for a backup.”

  “Since this is a relatively low temperature unit, you won’t have the scaling problems of the other units. It should be all right. If you get any jarheads on board you will have to watch the consumption rates a little more closely.”

  “Jarheads?” Peter said.

  “Marines. They have no concept of water conservation.”

  “I guess I had never thought about Marines being on board, just sailors.”

  “This thing can carry six additional people besides the crew. It's bound to end up with Marines on board at some point.”

  “When do you think you will be finished with your installation?”

  “End of the week. We would have had it whipped if the other generator had worked efficiently. Saturday or Sunday, I should think.”

  “Thanks,” Peter said and headed on through the sub.

  He checked with each department and only had one more to go. He found Dr. Phillips topside working on the sub's outer skin.

  “Hi Peter,” Morgan said as Peter approached.

  “Doctor. How is it coming?”

  “Not bad, not bad. We have had a few failures but overall I’m pleased.”

  “The blobs failed?”

  “Pods, Peter, pods,” Morgan corrected.

  “Sorry. Pod failures?”

  “So far about ten percent have failed in one way or another, some due to poor construction and some due to faulty circularity. We have replaced all but ten of the pods. Nine now,” he said clipping the stimulator prongs in place.

  “Have you tested the system out?”

  “Of course. That’s how we found the failures.”

  “Sorry. Silly question. When do you think you will finish?”

  “Early next week I believe. We will be finished with the installation later today but the program loading and testing will take some time.”

  “I’m rather under the gun. I need to get this thing operational as quickly as possible. The Navy is really pushing. It seems that something big is brewing and they need to have the Chameleon operational as quickly as possible,” Peter said.

  “But you don’t know why?”

  “Not really. Just a lot of pressure,” Peter said.

  Dr. Morgan just looked at him for a second.

  “I think you know more than you’re letting on. I’ll keep on it and maybe we can finish testing by the weekend. Would that help?”

  “Anything that you can do to get this thing out to sea asap would be a big help.”

  “All right Peter. I’ll push a little harder.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  “Dr. Ferris? Dr. Ferris?” a voice yelled from someplace below the water line.

  “Up here,” Peter yelled back.

  “Doctor, Admiral Marcus is here to see you.”

  “Tell him I’ll be right down,” he yelled back.

  “I know,” Morgan said, “You have to run. I’ll keep you informed as to our progress. For now you can count on us finishing up by Sunday. If that changes, I’ll look you up. Now go.”

  “Thanks again,” Peter said as he headed for the ladder and found the Admiral waiting at the stern of the DSV.

  “Doesn’t look like any submarine I’ve ever seen,” Marcus stated, shaking Peter's outstretched hand.

  “Something else isn’t it?”

  “You bet. We need to go someplace where we can talk and not be disturbed,” Marcus said.

  “How about my place?”

  “No. I don’t want to take up that much of your time. Let’s just go out to the pier and talk.”

  Peter followed the Admiral to the end of the pier and sat down with his legs dangling over the edge.

  “Peter, I have just left a briefing with Secretary Taylor. Things are really heating up. A series of increased transmissions has the White House in an uproar. The Air Force wants to start dropping bombs all over the ocean. Things are getting tense.”

  “Morons,” Peter said.

  “I agree, but everyone is getting pretty uptight. We need to get the Chameleon out to sea as soon as possible. A new transmission location has just been identified in the Atlantic.”

  “Can you narrow that down some?”

  “They think it is near the Nares Abyssal Plain.”

  “They, whoever they are, are all over the place,” Peter said.

  “So it would seem. Cooler heads are prevailing at present but you know how quickly things can get out of hand once fear takes over.”

  “What’s the plan?”

  “I’ve been instructed to have you enlist the aid of any of the current team members that you feel would be of benefit. You can do it however you feel is best but I have to tell you that once you talk to them it may get a little sticky.”

  “What does that mean exactly Ray?” Peter asked.

  “They will have to sign a National Securities Confidentially form. If they elect to go along it’s no big deal. If they decline, then they are to be kept at Otis as a security measure until the finish of the mission.”

  “Incarcerated? Locked up? Are you guys out of your minds?”

  “Not locked up. They will be kept at the base to act as backup and system analysis consultants. A new project will be initiated to occupy their time.”

  “Ray this is ridiculous. They came here in good faith. You can’t just lock them up for refusing to risk their lives for the good of the country. This isn’t the military. You can’t order these people to volunteer.”

  “I understand how you feel Peter. I expressed the same concerns. The bottom line is that either we do it, or they will bring in someone else to do it, and we, meaning me as well, will be placed under the same restrictions.”

  “They are threatening us?” Peter said, shaking his head.

  “Peter this is about national security. We just don’t count in the grand scheme of things. Not at this level.”

  “Unbelievable. Either we go along and take the risk of being killed or stay here and be held prisoner by the very people we were trying to help. Some choice you’ve given me.”

  “Not just you. It’s us Peter. I’m not immune either. Don’t forget that.”

  “I suppose they are going to pick the crew as well?”

  “No. I have a roster of men to choose from. We can choose whomever we want from this list,” Marcus said handing a folder over to Peter.

  “Handpicked list I suppose.”

  “I don’t think so. Most of the areas list several names. I don’t think they have that many people in reserve.”

  “Don’t kid yourself,” Peter said, looking through the names.

  “I have the service files on every one of those people. They are at Otis waiting for us,” Marcus said trying to calm Peter down.

  “What if we want to get someone else who’s not on their list?”

  “We can ask.”

  “Fat chance,” Peter said angrily.

  “So? Are you going to talk to the members that you want to come along or have someone else appointed to do the job?”

  “What if I just told them all what was going on and we walked off the job?”

  “A strike? You must be joking. They would have a team in here by sundown to pick up the pieces.”

  “It wouldn’t do them much good. Only we know how the Chameleon really works. We designed it.”

  “Peter, don’t fool yourself. They would get it done one way or the other. It may take them a little longer but it would get done.”

  “It would take them years to figure out what we have done here.”

  “Look, you do what you have to do. Don’t count on me to jump in with you. I understand your frustration but believe me, this isn’t the way to go about trying to gain control of the situation. Chill out. Go along. Once you’re onboard the ship
your people will really be in charge. They will have to rely on you to get the job done. Don’t trump your own ace.”

  “Okay fine. Let me cool down a minute. This just really irritates me. I understand where you’re coming from. Sorry but I tend to overreact when I get angry.”

  “Don’t we all?”

  “Marcus, I just can’t believe they would really hold these people until the mission is over. There has to be a better way.”

  “What? You know how it is today. It would only take one person slipping information and within hours it would be on some news program. The President, and the nation for that matter, cannot have this information out there until we know what we’re really dealing with. The panic could result in hundreds or thousands killed.”

  “I guess you’re right but I don’t like the heavy handedness one little bit.”

  “Believe me, neither does anyone else. They have discussed this at great length but no good alternative has been presented. If you can think of a better security solution I’m sure they would listen,” Marcus said.

  “Alright. I’ll talk to them but if anyone doesn’t want to go along it will be up to you to enforce the imprisonment.”

  “Sequestering,” Marcus corrected.

  “Call it what you want.”

  “When do you intend to talk to them?”

  “Next Wednesday, if all goes well.”

  “Why wait so long?”

  “We should be all finished with the testing and have all systems installed by then. Only the main computer will still be non-functional.”

  “That’s great. You mean we could be ready for sea trials by next week?”

  “The possibility exists. It will depend on Dr. Long’s people at that point.”

  “So you want to be sure the equipment is all working before talking to them. That makes good sense.”

  “It’s for them as well. I don’t want one of them to do something that they would be sorry for later.”

  “All right Peter, I understand. Do you want to help me pick out the other crew members?”

  “No. That’s your job. I wouldn’t know one rate or job function from the other. Just try to choose ones that won’t get us killed.”

  “I’ll be down there with you. You can bet I’ll be very selective.”

  “What’s the next step?”

  “I will need you to accompany me to the White House. The President wants to have a briefing and he wants to talk to you in person.”

  “Why?” Peter asked.

  “A pep talk I guess. Go get ‘em tiger. That kind of thing.”

  “Ray, I have an incredible number of processes and integrations to oversee here. I can’t run off to Washington every other day.”

  “Peter this isn’t exactly a request. He specifically instructed the Secretary to have you present for the meeting. He wants you to be fully briefed as to the parameters of the mission.”

  “When is the briefing?”

  “Tomorrow, 1600 hours.”

  Peter just looked at him.

  “That’s 4:00 P.M. in the real world, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’m not flying with Mad Dog again am I?”

  “Not this time. We aren’t in that big a hurry. A Lear will be standing by.

  Departure is scheduled for 1300...ah...1:00 P.M.”

  “I’ll be back here that night, right?” Peter asked.

  “I wouldn’t plan on it. The last time I went to one of these, it lasted until 2 o’clock in the morning. I’ve made room arrangements for you already.”

  “That’s just great. I'll let everyone know that I’ll be off playing big shot again.”

  “I’ll get you home early the next day if you wish.”

  “Count on it. I want to get this DSV to sea trials as quickly as possible. I didn’t intend for this to be my life’s work.”

  “Bring me up to speed on our progress so I can make a report before the meeting,” Marcus said.

  Peter went over the various departments one by one and explained the existing problems and the action being taken. Marcus was relieved to find that there were only minor problems.

  “I had better start back. I have a lot to do before the briefing tomorrow. Thanks for all the hard work Peter.”

  “Just make sure you pick us a good crew.”

  “Aye, aye sir,” the Admiral said, with a mocking salute.

  * * *

  Peter waved as the car drove off. He started to go back down into the Chameleon when he saw Susan coming across the planking that had been laid down for access to the DSV.

  “Hi Peter,” she said smiling, “I thought I might find you here. How are things going?”

  “Very well. In fact, better than expected. Almost all of the major hurdles have been cleared. Ted and Luke think they have the necessary information to get the navigational system online. The few problems we do have should be resolved by the first of next week.”

  “Guess it’s time to get my people really cracking. Your department and weapons control will take the longest, I think. It depends on Dr. Philip’s part. I’ve been over his programs and while they are complicated, they don’t present any major obstacles.”

  “Good. Do you have a timeframe that I can anticipate?” Peter asked.

  “I’d say six or seven days to get it all encoded and a day or two to debug.”

  “Any way to cut that down?”

  “Maybe. Is there a big push on again?”

  “Yes. I’ve been summoned to the White House for a briefing about the Chameleon.”

  “The White House? Again? My, you are certainly moving in high circles. I guess I had better be more careful how I speak to you.”

  “I should think so,” Peter said, smiling.

  “What’s it all about? You hinted that something was up. Can you talk about it yet?”

  “I was going to wait for a few days to make sure I had the whole story but I need to bounce it off someone. Would you mind if I made us dinner at my place and we can talk then?”

  “You cook?”

  “Actually I’m pretty good.”

  “I’ll be there. What time?”

  “I’ll have a driver pick you up at your place at 7:30 if that’s good for you.”

  “I’ll be waiting. I guess I had better get my crew in gear. See you tonight.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  - PENTAGON -

  “Sir, how do you know he will pick my name from the roster?”

  “I know Marcus. I know what he looks for in people. I’ve had a set of records made for you that he won’t be able to resist. The good thing about him is that he is by the book and predictable,” Admiral Zoren said.

  “I suppose you have a backup plan just in case.”

  “Of course. I would rather not use it, but I will if necessary.”

  “When is he making the selections?”

  “This week. He wants to get the new members to the DSV as soon as possible so they can start getting acclimated.”

  “I will need a full set of blueprints of the Chameleon.”

  “I figured as much. Here,” he said, handing over a large tube. “They are in there. The specs for the different systems are in the supplements over there,” the Admiral said, pointing to a table.

  “When is the mission scheduled to begin?”

  “It hasn’t been decided yet. Some of the systems are still being installed. The last report I heard was that within the next three weeks it should be ready for sea trials.”

  “And the civilians going along, who is in charge of them?”

  “Admiral Marcus will technically be in charge. You are there to note what’s going on, pinpoint the location and relay the information.”

  “Understood. And if Admiral Marcus doesn’t carry out orders?”

  “You have the authority to relieve him of command. Here,” he said, passing him an envelope. “This gives you the authority to take command of the DSV if, in your opinion, Admiral Marcus is not taking the a
ppropriate action as directed by the Commander-in-Chief.”

  “Who determines that?”

  “Why you do, of course.”

  “Just wanted to be sure.”

  “Make no mistake about it. Admiral Marcus will be wearing the hat but you have the power. That letter guarantees it. It’s signed by the President,” Admiral Zoren said, handing over a letter with the signature of President Beland.

  “Really? I never thought you could get him to go along. This is somewhat of a surprise.”

  “Oh, I have my way of getting things done,” he lied.

  “And if he refuses to relinquish control?”

  “He won’t. Marcus understands the chain of command. He will do as he is instructed,” Zoren answered.

  “But if he won’t?” the man insisted.

  “Then do whatever you have to do to take charge. Force, if necessary, is authorized. I can tell you it won’t be necessary.”

  “I just want to make sure there is no misunderstanding.”

  “Marcus will not be a problem but the civilians could be. They don’t take orders very well,” Zoren said.

  “I’m not too worried about a bunch of civilians. I can handle them, especially scientists.”

  “Don’t get too cocky. This isn’t a bunch of academia. They are the ones actually building the Chameleon.”

  “I’ll handle it.”

  “Good. Is there anything else you need?”

  “That should just about do it. I’ll let you know if I need additional support.”

  “You’ve had the tracking transmitter implanted already?”

  “Yesterday. Everything seems to be fine. It’s been tested and is working properly.”

  “Good. You need to get back. I’m sure Admiral Marcus will be calling for you very soon. If you haven’t heard anything by the end of next week, let me know.”

  “Here?”

  “No. Call this number,” the Admiral said handing him a piece of paper with a number on it, “Never contact me here. Too many ears.”

  After the man had left, Admiral Zoren called General Durance.

  “Everything is proceeding on schedule,” he told the General.

  “Excellent. Our exercise is off to a good start as well. I assume you have talked to your Army friends?”

  “Of course. They are delighted to participate in such a worthwhile campaign. When we give the word, they will respond. I’m looking forward to this exercise. It will be good for all of us.”